out when nato's going to be verg to be very happy but he need it for security -- but we need it for security purposes, for national security and world security. reporter: first of all, last year you told me that you believed that the reason you won the election is because god put you in this place so that you could save the world. looking back one year, do you feel like god is proud of the effort that you've made? pres. trump: i do. i think god is very proud of the job i've done. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2026] announcer: you can continue watching president trump's remarks on c-span2. we're going to leave this here for live coverage of the u.s. house on c-span. a recorded vote, or the yeas and nays are ordered, or votes objected to. under clause six of rule 20. the house will resume proceedings on postponed questions at a later time. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition?

>> madam speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass h.r. 3496, the northern mariana islands small business access act, as amended. >> the clerk will report the title of the bill. >> calendar number 350. h.r. 3496, a bill to amend the small business act for micro loan eligibility for the commonwealth of the northern mariana islands and for other purposes. >> pursuant to the rule. the gentleman from texas, mr. williams, and the gentlewoman from new york, miss velazquez, will each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. >> madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill. >> without objection. >> madam speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> madam speaker, i rise today in strong support of h.r. 3496, the northern mariana islands

small business access act. this bill was introduced by delegate king hines and representative conaway. the sba microloan program provides entrepreneurs with access to small dollar loans through qualified through intermediary lenders. sometimes, entrepreneurs do not need to access large sums of capital for their operations. but whereas the sba micro plan program can help entrepreneurs get just enough capital to meet their exact needs. under current law, the sba appropriations micro loan program funding to intermediaries in 55 states and territories and enforcing the commonwealth of northern mariana islands is excluded. this creates an unnecessary barriers for small businesses in the northern mariana islands by limiting opportunities for local entrepreneurship and economic growth. h.r. 3496 fixes this oversight and ensures that the commonwealth of the northern mariana islands is included within the geographic scope of the sba micro loan program, increasing the number of states and territories eligible to receive micro loan program funding from

55 to 56. expanding eligibility for the micro loan program will help spur entrepreneurship, strengthen local economies, and ensure that small businesses in all states and territories have a fair opportunity to grow. so i urge my colleagues to support h.r. 3496, and i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. i yield myself such time as i may consume. i rise in support of h.r. 3496, the northern mariana islands small business act. this is a straightforward but important bill that expands access to sba microloan program to small businesses in the commonwealth of the northern mariana islands. these small businesses face unique challenges as geographic isolation leads to higher costs for goods and services, and their economy is heavily reliant on tourism, which can

ebb and flow with the economy and natural disasters. having access to affordable credit gives small businesses the ability to weather the storms and economic uncertainty, and fully prepare for the next opportunity. the extension of the microloan program to cnmi will be critical to support business growth, create jobs, and stimulate the local economy. i have long supported efforts to ensure the territories have full access to sba products and services. in previous congresses, i worked with then representative sablan to establish an sbdc center in cnmi, and i also work to ensure that cnmi have access to the microloan program as part of a more comprehensive bill. unfortunately, the bill to improve the microloan program was not enacted into law. i am glad to working across the

aisle again to make sure territory receives full access to sba services. i urge members to support this important bill and i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentlewoman reserves. the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. i now yield as much time as she may consume to my good friend, miss king hynes, from the great commonwealth of the northern mariana islands. >> madam speaker, i rise today in strong support of my bill, h.r. 3496, as amended. the northern mariana islands small business asset access act. this bill would include my district, the northern mariana islands, and the small business administration's microloan program. the microloan program issues loans of $50,000 or less at low interest rates, to help small businesses that may be unable to access capital elsewhere, grow their businesses, or create jobs. since the program became operational in 1992, it has issued over 69,000 loans

totaling over 900 million, and supported over 250,000 american jobs. despite the program's impressive impact for americans across the country, the northern mariana islands is the only state or territory not explicitly included under the law. this bill would simply add the cnmi to be eligible for the program alongside every other territory. the cnmi is currently facing an economic crisis following the collapse of our primary industry, which is tourism. local small businesses are struggling to get approved for affordable loans, in part because of this economic uncertainty. gaining access to this program could help local entrepreneurs make the investments they need to help put our economy on more solid footing. i thank my co-lead on the bill, representative conway, for his steadfast support, as well as representative cisneros and goodlander for also cosponsoring this legislation. i'd also like to thank chairman williams and ranking member velazquez for their support and help in bringing this bill to the floor. again, my bill

simply adds my district to the microloan program that is already available to all other americans. i urge all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan, common sense, common sense, no cost bill. thank you, madam speaker, i yield back. >> reserve. >> the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. >> madam speaker, i have no further. speaker. i'm prepared to close. >> the gentlewoman reserved. >> madam speaker, we have no further speakers, and i'm prepared to close. and i reserve the balance of my time. >> gentleman is recognized. >> thank you, mr. speaker. >> i urge my. >> the gentleman will suspend. >> madam speaker, i urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and i yield back the balance of my time. >> the gentlewoman suspends. yields back. the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> madam speaker, we have no further speakers, and. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> all right. and i want to

thank you again, madam speaker, and urge my colleagues to support h.r. 3096 to bring access to capital for small businesses in the northern mariana islands. and i yield back. >> the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill? h.r. 3496, as amended? those in favor say aye. those opposed? no. in the opinion of the chair, two thirds being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> madam speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass h.r. 5763. the main street parody act. >> the clerk will report the title of the bill. >> union calendar number 354 h.r. 5763. a bill to amend the small business investment act of 1958 to modify the criteria

for loans for plant acquisition, construction, conversion or expansion, and for other purposes. >> pursuant to the rule. the gentleman from texas, mr. williams, and the gentlewoman from new york, miss velazquez, will each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. >> thank you, madam speaker. and i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill. >> without objection. >> madam speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> madam speaker, i rise today in strong support of my bill. h.r. 5763, the main street parity act. i would also like to thank my friend, representative simon from the great state of california for joining me in co-leading this bipartisan effort. the sba 504 loan program is an important tool that helps small businesses obtain affordable financing for the acquisition of fixed assets such as land, buildings, and heavy machinery.

to obtain a 504 loan, a small business owner must contribute 10% of the total project cost as a form of down payment. however, for small businesses seeking financing to build something like a surgery center or a nursing home, the sba imposes additional equity requirements. because these properties are deemed limited. purpose. this initial equity injection was required because limited purpose properties were believed to be at a higher risk of default. years of data show that this assumption is incorrect, and in fact, many businesses facing these increased costs were at a lower risk of default than the broader 504 portfolio. so it's time to bring parity to main street and remove the unnecessary lender barriers based on outdated assumptions. i urge my colleagues to vote yes on h.r. 5763, and i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. i yield myself such time as i may consume. madam speaker, i rise in support of h.r. 5763, the

main street parity act. one of the key functions of the sba is to ensure that small businesses in communities across the country have access to the capital they need to grow and scale their operations. the sba has long served this need through its loan guarantee programs, including the 504 cdc program, the 504 cdc program supports small businesses in accessing capital for the development of major fixed assets like land, buildings, equipment, and machinery. as part of the program, loans are guaranteed for so-called special use properties like amusement parks, car washes, bowling alleys, and gas stations. when the special use designation was created in 1996, congress required businesses developing these properties to pay a special purpose penalty.

the penalty requires businesses to provide at least 15 to 20% equity, instead of the minimum 10% for standard 504 cdc loans, while the additional equity requirement serves an important safeguard for the program when first enacted. we have seen over time that the extra risk is not as great as anticipated. in the past 30 years, technological developments and time has shown that many of these properties can be successfully repurposed for alternative uses, increasing the market pool of potential buyers. further, the chart of rates for special purpose and standard loans are similar, demonstrating that these loans pose no greater risk than regular 504 loans. because of its limited risks, the special use penalty is no longer

necessary. h.r. 5763 reduces the minimum equity requirement for special purpose properties to at least 10%, in line with the requirement for standard 504 cdc loans. most importantly, it maintains discretionary authority to require higher equity if deemed necessary. this bill is supported by the national association of development companies. i applaud chairman williams and representative simon's bipartisan work on this issue, and i ask all my colleagues to support it. thank you. and i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentlewoman reserves. the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. >> i yield to the gentlewoman from california. my simon, for

three minutes. >> the gentlewoman is recognized. >> good afternoon, madam speaker. it feels wonderful to say that. and i want to thank representative velazquez for your support, particularly for freshman members from the democratic side on the small business committee and to representative chair williams for your collaboration on this bill. i'm extremely proud to lead the main street parity act with chair williams as members of the small business committee. i would say one of the most bipartisan committees in the 119th congress. we hear the same messages repeated every single day. small businesses don't need special treatment. in fact, they're just asking for a fair shot in this economy. the sba 504 loan program is designed to provide that fair shot through basic, basic, good

policy, affordable long term financing. the financing helps small businesses buy buildings, buy property, expand operations, and employ main street neighbors throughout our community. but the current law, not all small businesses are treated the same. owners of so called small purpose properties are required to put up significantly more cash up front, often 5 to 10% more than standard property owners. and those include places like bowling alleys and wash houses and marinas and funeral homes and recreation centers. these are the kind of small businesses that serve local families and create jobs and keep our communities vibrant. for many entrepreneurs, the higher equity requirement is the difference between jumping in headfirst and creating new economic opportunities for their communities and families,

or walking away entirely. the way of doing business just doesn't reflect our current economic technological realities. this bill offers a new opportunity for americans across the country to step forward. the main street parity act is common sense. it's a clear fix that brings these loans in line with the 504 standardization programs. by setting an equity requirement at 10%, i would encourage members from both sides of the aisle to put small business owners and their employees first by supporting this bill, and i will yield back. >> yields. the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> madam speaker, we have no further speakers, and i'm prepared to close, and i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. >> i have no further speaker. i'm prepared to close up.

>> the gentlewoman is recognized. >> thank you. i again want to thank chairman williams and representative simon for their bipartisan work on this bill. i encourage all my colleagues to vote yes, and i yield back the balance of my time. >> the gentlewoman yields. the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. and h.r. 5763 allows small businesses on main street to have equal access to sba 504 loans. i urge my colleagues to support this legislation. i yield back. >> the gentleman yields. the the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill? h.r. 5763? those in favor say aye. those opposed? no. in the opinion of the chair, two thirds being in the affirmative. the. oh, for what purpose does the gentleman. >> i ask. >> seek to be recognized? >> as for the yeas and nays. >> the yeas and nays are

requested, all those in favor of taking this vote by yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. a sufficient number. having risen, the yeas and nays are ordered pursuant to clause eight of rule 20. further proceedings on this question will be postponed. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> madam speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass the bill. h.r. 5764, the ai for main street act, as amended. >> the clerk will report the title of the bill. >> union calendar number 351 h.r. 5764. a bill to amend the small business act to require small businesses development centers to assist small business concerns with the use of artificial intelligence and for other purposes. >> pursuant to the rule. the gentleman from texas, mr. williams, and the gentlewoman from new york, miss velazquez,

will each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. >> madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill. >> without objection. >> madam speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> madam speaker, i rise today in strong support of h.r. 5764, the ai for main street act, introduced by representative alford and skelton. artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to streamline operations, reduce costs and boost productivity for small businesses. but for many small businesses across the country, adopting these tools remains out of reach because they lack the staff, the expertise or the capital to do so. the ai for main street act helps address this challenge by directing the sba, small business development centers, or sbdcs, to assist small businesses in developing ai technologies into their operations. these centers operate in partnership with

universities and community colleges across the country, and are trusted advisors to local entrepreneurs. this approach builds on work already underway. in september 24th, america's sbdcs, in partnership with google, launched america sbdc a, which provides hands on ai training clinics and technical assistance to small businesses. this bill builds on what the effort by requiring the sbdc network to have a core duty to assist entrepreneurs nationwide in fighting ai in their businesses. as artificial intelligence becomes a core driver of productivity and competitiveness, main street cannot be left behind. i urge my colleagues to support h.r. 5764, the ai for main street act. thank you. and i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. i yield myself such time as i may consume. i'm pleased to support the ai for main street act,

which would allow sbdcs to assist small business owners on how to evaluate artificial intelligence. i commend mr. alford and miss golden for working together on this bipartisan legislation. ai has the potential to boost productivity, enhance customer service and save costs. and while it is becoming increasingly common for small businesses to use ai to streamline their operations, many still do not have access to it responsibly. but if used incorrectly, ai could have disastrous consequences. that is why it is incredibly important for sba and its entrepreneurial ecosystem to help small businesses understand the potential pitfalls and learn how to avoid them. i am pleased to support this bipartisan bill and i

reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentlewoman reserves the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. and at this time, i'd like to yield to the gentleman from the great state of missouri, mr. alford, such time as he may consume. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. and thank you so much. i rise today in strong support of our ai for main street act, and i want to thank chairman williams for his leadership and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. foremost ranking member velasquez for her leadership and congresswoman hillary scholten for working with me to bring this important bill forward. a lot of people are talking about ai these days. will it overtake america? will it put business owners and workers out of business? this bill is designed to get ahead of that, to make sure that that does not happen. in fact, to increase businesses in america.

this committee, you know, exists for one simple reason, and that is to champion main street, the small businesses that line our town, squares that power our farms, support our hospitals, and employ nearly half of the american workforce. and right now, main street stands at the doorstep of a major transformation because the ai revolution is not just coming, it's already here. whether it's managing inventory, scheduling workers, marketing products, improving cybersecurity, streamlining paperwork, artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming how business gets done in america. and if small businesses do not have the tools and guidance to adapt to that, if they're fearful of it, they risk getting left behind, getting left behind by larger competitors with bigger budgets and in-house tech teams. and by the way, they're also using ai.

well, that's exactly what this bill addresses. the ai for main street act directs small business development centers sbdcs to provide counseling, training, and outreach to help small businesses safely evaluate and adopt artificial intelligence tools. these centers already serve as trusted boots on the ground advisors in communities across the country like columbia, the university of missouri like in sedalia, and other places where these sbdcs are providing real help. real boots on the ground. entrepreneurs rely on them for practical guidance and real world help that works for their businesses. this bill builds on existing efforts like america's sbdc, i program and ensures that ai support is consistent, accessible, and nationwide, not just in major metro areas but in rural towns, manufacturing

hubs and agricultural communities like those i represent in missouri's fourth congressional district. and just as importantly, this bill emphasizes responsible adoption. we want small business owners to understand not only what ai can do, but how to use it securely and safely and ethically and effectively. this is not about replacing people. it is about empowering people. it's about giving a family owned business the same opportunity to to compete and grow and innovate as a fortune 500 company. i am proud of this legislation and how it advanced out of committee with bipartisan support, strong bipartisan support. i appreciate the strong backing from our colleagues on both sides of the aisle who recognize that innovation and small business growth should never be partizan issues. at the end of the day, when main street succeeds, america

succeeds. the ai for main street act helps ensure that our entrepreneurs are not spectators in the next wave of innovation, but our small business owners are leaders in this revolution. thank you, madam speaker, and i yield back. >> the gentleman yields back. >> reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. >> madam speaker, i have no further. speaker. i'm prepared to close. i commend the sponsors for working together on this important legislation to provide small businesses with the training they need. and i yield back the balance of my time. >> the gentleman the gentlewoman is yields. the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> madam speaker, h.r. 5764 will give small businesses the ai resources and tools directly for the sbdcs across this country. and i urge my colleagues to support this common sense legislation. and i yield back.

>> the gentleman yields. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill? h.r. 5764, as amended? those in favor say aye. those opposed? no. in the opinion of the chair, two thirds being in the affirmative. >> seek recognition. >> for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> i ask for the ayes and nays. >> the yeas and nays are requested. all those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted a sufficient number. having risen, the yeas and nays are ordered pursuant to clause eight of rule 20. further proceedings on this question will be postponed. for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> madam speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass h.r. 5788, the 504 program risk

oversight act. >> the clerk will report the title of the bill. >> union calendar number 352 hr 5788. a bill to amend title five of the small business investment act of 1958 to require an annual portfolio risk analysis of loans guaranteed under such title and for other purposes. >> pursuant to the rule. the gentleman from texas, mr. williams, and the gentlewoman from new york, miss velazquez, will each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. >> madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks, and include extraneous material on the bill. >> without objection. >> madam speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. madam speaker, i rise today in strong support of h.r. 5788, the 504 program risk oversight act, introduced by

representatives tran and petronas. this bipartisan piece of legislation would give congress greater accountability and oversight of the sba's 504 loan program by requiring the sba to provide congress and the public with annual data driven assessments of the 504 loan portfolio. the 504 program is incredibly important tool that helps small businesses obtain long term fixed rate financing, like the acquisition of fixed assets such as land, buildings and heavy machinery. in fiscal year 2025, the program supported $7.8 billion in loans to small businesses nationwide. specifically, h.r. 5708 would require the sba to provide congress with annual reports on the health of the 504 loan portfolio. this would include an analysis of any risk to the program, broken down by multiple data points, including industry concentration, loan age, and gross dollar amount. these reports would be made available to the public within seven days of being provided to

congress, so the transparency measures in this bill are particularly important. in light of the house passage of my bill, h.r. 3074, the made in america finance act, which raised the loan limit for american manufacturers under the sba's seven a and 504 loan programs to $10 million. i hope it will quickly move through the senate and to president trump's desk. h.r. 5788 marks a critical step toward identifying and mitigating risk early, strengthening the long term viability and affordability of the 504 loan program, and ensuring continued support for the american entrepreneurs. with that, i urge my colleagues to vote yes on h.r. 5788, and i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. i yield myself such time as i may consume. >> the gentlewoman is recognized. >> madam speaker, i rise in support of the bill before us today. h.r. 5788, the 504 program risk oversight act. transparency is key to ensuring

the proper operation and functioning of the sba lending programs, including the 504 cdc program. and this bill will give our committee the information necessary to carry out our oversight authority. federal law requires the sba office of credit risk management to conduct an annual portfolio risk analysis of the sba flagship seven loan program, and provide congress with a detailed report of the results. this report has been crucial in committee democrats investigation into the rising default levels in the seven eight program, and has helped us respond accordingly. unfortunately, no statutory reporting requirement exists for the 504 cdc loan program. h.r. 5788 will fix that by

adding a requirement that the sba conduct an annual risk analysis of the 504 cdc program and provide congress with the results tailored to the 504 cdc program's unique features. the report will provide congress with many of the same data points it currently provides on the seven day program, but the bill also requires several new data points to improve our stewardship of the program. while loan defaults aren't currently a concern for the 504 program, this bill will provide congress with valuable information needed to monitor the program's operation, guard against future risk, and ensure the program's zero subsidy requirement is maintained. i applaud representative strand and patronis for their work on this bill, which is supported by the national association of

development companies. i ask my colleagues to support it. thank you. and i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentlewoman reserves. the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. at this time, i'd like to yield to the gentleman from the great state of florida. mr. patronis, such time as he may consume. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i want to thank the lead of this bill, mr. tran of california. i appreciate the opportunity to serve as co-lead on this legislation. the sba's 504 program helps small businesses grow, create jobs, invest in their communities. because this program uses taxpayer backed loans. it is important that we properly review and manage risk. h.r. 588 makes a simple fix. it requires risk assessments for the 504 loan program, just like we already do with our other major sba loan programs. this helps close the gap and improves oversight.

transparency matters. we are clearly understanding how our program is working. we can protect taxpayers dollars, make sure the program stays strong. this bill helps us ensure that responsible responsibility with the taxpayers money while continuing to support small businesses. i urge my colleagues to support h.r. 5788. thank you, mr. speaker, and i yield back. >> the gentleman yields. >> i reserve. >> the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. >> madam speaker, i yield to the gentleman from california and leads sponsor of the bill, mr. tran, for three minutes. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> madam speaker, i rise today in strong support of h.r. 5788, the 504 program risk oversight act, bipartisan legislation that strengthens one of sba's most successful financing programs for decades, the sba's 504 loan program has been a cornerstone of economic development in communities

across america through public and private partnership with certified development companies. the 504 program helps small businesses grow, create jobs, and invest in their communities. since its inception in 1986, the program has provided approximately 400 billion in total project financing and created over 3.3 million jobs in california alone. that translates to $95 billion in total capital, and the creation of over 715,000 good paying jobs for entrepreneurs in california. 45th district and across the nation, the 504 loan programs unique model provides them with access to long term fixed rate financing to help them expand operations, purchase property, and make lasting investments in their local economy. in orange county and l.a. county alone, the 504 program has injected more than

27 billion into into local businesses and helped create over 175,000 jobs over the last 25 years. my my bipartisan bill, the 504 program risk oversight act, builds on that success by ensuring that all partners, the sba, congress and industry have access to clear, consistent and transparent data about the health of the program. currently, sba is not required to conduct an annual risk analysis of the 504 loan program and provide congress with any performance data. my bill addresses this problem and requires the sba to conduct an annual risk assessment of the 504 program and provide congress with detailed insights into overall health of the program and information needed to strengthen program performance. transparent data is the cornerstone of a productive partnership between the sba, congress, and industry and the work we do collectively to keep the 504 program healthy for future generations of entrepreneurs. now, more than

ever, small businesses need what the 504 loan program provides certainty and affordability. affordable patient capital. i'm proud to lead this bill, and i want to thank my colleague, representative jimmy patronis, for his partnership in co-leading this important piece of legislation with me and, of course, to ranking member velasquez and chair williams. this would not be possible without your leadership. madam speaker, i urge my colleagues to support this bill. thank you. and i yield back. >> the gentleman yields the gentleman from new york is recognized. i mean, texas, texas. >> madam speaker, we have no further speakers, and i'm prepared to close. and i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman reserves. gentleman from new york is recognized. >> madam speaker, i have no further speaker. i'm prepared to close. >> gentlewoman is recognized. >> i again want to applaud representative tran and patronis for their bipartisan

work on this bill, and i encourage all my colleagues to vote yes. and i yield back the balance of my time. >> the gentlewoman yields. the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. and h.r. 5708 provides transparency to the sba 504 loan program, a key program that promotes job creation, small business growth. i urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and i yield back. >> the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill? h.r. 5788? those in favor say aye. those opposed? no. in the opinion of the chair, two thirds being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended. the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. purpose. does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? >> madam speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass the

bill. h.r. 5784, the a one ys. act ii ys act. >> the clerk will report the title of the bill. >> union calendar number 353. h.r. 5784, a bill to amend the small business act to help small businesses concerns. critically evaluate artificial intelligence tools and for other purposes. >> pursuant to the rule. the gentleman from texas, mr. williams, and the gentlewoman from new york, miss velasquez, will each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas. >> madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill. >> without objection. >> madam speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> madam speaker, i rise in support of h.r. 5007 84, the artificial intelligence wisdom for innovative small entrepreneurs act and the ai act. this bipartisan bill is

led by representative skelton and downing. artificial intelligence is hanging up. how is changing how businesses operate in real time? and while large corporations can afford expensive consultants and trial and error experimentation, many small businesses do not have the luxury to do that. for a small business owner like myself, every dollar matters. the act helps bridge that gap. this bill does directs the sba to provide a clear, accessible, and practical guidance that helps small businesses owners understand artificial intelligence in straightforward terms. it focuses on helping entrepreneurs evaluate whether an artificial intelligence tool is useful for their specific business, where it may fall short, and whether it is truly worth the cost they spend in their money to get that. importantly, this bill does all of this without authorizing any new spending. it builds on existing programs, avoids picking winners and losers, and keeps the federal government focused on providing information, not mandates, and urge my colleagues to support

this common sense bipartisan legislation and vote yes on h.r. 5784. with that, i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman yields the gentleman. i mean, the gentleman reserves. the gentlewoman from new york is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. i yield myself such time as i may consume. >> the gentlewoman is recognized. >> i am proud to support h.r. 5784, the ai wise act. four years ago, ai burst into mainstream focus with the launch of open ai chatgpt. when i first tried this tool, i was shocked. i knew then and there that ai had the potential to revolutionize the way american firms operate and do business. but ai, like all emerging technology, comes with risks. ai outputs are prone to bias, discrimination, misinformation

and omissions. safety and cyber security vulnerabilities can render ai deployers open to adversarial attacks. and we don't even fully know these risks because we cannot predict ai's trajectory. so new risks could come up as it evolves and adds capabilities. we have all seen reports of gen ai gone wrong, with episodes ranging from customer service chatbots at car dealerships offering to sell pick up trucks for $1, to general purpose chatbots advising small businesses to break the law. in other words, a small business using a flawed ai model risks steep reputational and legal harm. many of these incidents are attributable simply to ai's current technological

immaturity and the growing pains that come with its ongoing revolution. this is why ai literacy is crucial for small businesses to keep up with the larger competitors. considering and adopting ai, the ai wise act will direct sba to create online ai literacy resources for entrepreneurs, so they have the tools to make sound choices on ai adoption and use. it will also direct sba to keep the resources updated on innovations in ai, ai technology through an expert working group. finally, the bill will allow the sba resource partners to develop specialized and localized assistance to best educate their communities. i thank my colleagues, mr. miss colton and mr. downing for collaborating

over the past, over the last two years to bring this bill to the floor. furthermore, let me convey my gratitude to chairman williams, his staff director lauren holmes and all the floor staff for seeing this bill through today. it is greatly appreciated. with that, i urge members to support this bill and i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentlewoman reserves. the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. and at this time i would like to introduce the gentleman from the great state of montana, mr. downing. such time as he may consume. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. i rise in strong support of h.r. 5784, the ai ai act. this legislation will provide essential resources for small businesses to support support their efforts to adopt ai. small businesses are optimistic about the potential of ai. capabilities like machine learning and language

processing are becoming critical tools for businesses seeking streamlining, seeking streamlined operations like workforce recruitment, marketing and strategy development. however, businesses with substantial and stable access to capital tend to be better positioned for technology adoption and dealing with its ramifications. small businesses, on the other hand, including businesses in rural communities like my home district in central and eastern montana, often lack the resources and information needed to facilitate technological technology adoption. for example, according to 2025 report from the us chamber of commerce, 59% of small businesses in montana have adopted ai into their operations. while this figure may seem significant, it pales in comparison to the near-universal adoption of ai that we see with fortune 500 companies. that's why i'm proud to co-lead h.r. 5784, the ai act, with my colleague, representative skelton. the ai

act directs the small business administration, the sba, to establish educational resources on ai for small businesses through its online learning platform. in doing so, this legislation seeks to provide small businesses with the technical and practical knowledge needed to best navigate ai adoption. the scope of this educational material will include resources for small businesses on how ai models work, how businesses can identify tasks with ai, and can effectively perform the the best practices for coordinating with third party providers and protecting data privacy. i would like to thank my colleague, representative skelton, for co-leading this legislation with me. the act will ensure small businesses have the information that they need to most effectively utilize ai to bolster their entrepreneurship. i urge my colleagues to vote in support of this legislation and with that, i yield back my time. >> the gentleman yields. the gentleman reserves. the

gentlewoman from texas. i mean, from new york is recognized. >> i have no further speaker. i'm prepared to close. >> a woman is recognized. >> i commend mr. colton and mr. downing for their dedication to our nation's innovators, small enterprises. and i urge my colleagues to support h.r. 5784. with that, i yield back the balance of my time. >> the gentlewoman yields. the gentleman from texas is recognized. >> thank you, madam speaker. and we cannot leave main street behind in the adoption of ai. i urge my colleagues to vote yes on this legislation, and i yield back. >> the gentleman yields. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill? h.r. 5784. those in favor say aye. those opposed? no. in the opinion of the chair, two thirds being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table.

>> okay. >> for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek to be recognized? >> madam speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass h.r. 659 veterans law judge experience act of 2025. >> the clerk will report the title of. >> union calendar number 263 h.r. 659. a bill to amend title

38, united states code, to direct the chairman of the board of veterans appeals to give priority to individuals with certain professional experience, and recommending such individuals to serve as members of the board of veterans appeals and for other purposes. >> pursuant to the rule. the gentleman from illinois, mr. bost, and the gentleman from california, mr. takano, will each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois. >> madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on h.r. 659. >> without objection. >> madam speaker, i yield myself as much time as i may consume. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> speaker i rise today in support of h.r. 659. this this bill would require the chairman of the board of veterans appeals to prioritize people with at least three years of relevant, relevant experience working in veterans law when recommending new veteran law

judges to the va secretary for positions at the va. this legislation does not alter the criteria the board currently uses to evaluate judges, and it does not restrict the board chairman from recommending other qualified candidates. madam speaker, this bill would ensure that the best judges with vitality and vitally important firsthand experience are serving our veterans at the va. veterans expect that those who are hearing their appeal are reviewing evidence in support of their appeal. have the skills, knowledge and experience in veterans law to make sound decisions. i support this common sense legislation, and i urge all of my colleagues to support h.r. 659. and with that, i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman reserves, the

gentleman from california is recognized. >> madam speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> madam speaker, i rise to express my support for h.r. 659, the veterans law judge experience act of 2025. madam speaker, contrary to what the american public often thinks, sometimes in this body we actually do things that make sense. that is very much the case with h.r. 659, the veterans law judge experience act, introduced by my friend and colleague, representative julia brownley. now, this bill is simple and straightforward. it states that when recommending individuals to serve on the board of appeals veteran, the board of veterans appeals priority should be given to those who have three or more years of experience in practicing veterans law. the veterans affairs committee hears often about the complex nature of the disability compensation system at the

department of veterans affairs. that complexity, unfortunately, leads to mistakes and errors that cause our veterans disability claims to be denied prematurely, and especially now, at a time when we've seen that secretary collins has shifted the department's focus from getting claims right to simply getting them fast. we are seeing higher rates of processing errors, higher denial rates, and consequently, higher rates of appeals to the board of veterans appeals. the bva in that context, it is imperative that the bva has the staffing levels and experience levels to get things right for veterans. i, along with everyone else, support efforts to ensure that veterans and beneficiaries are being served at every point of contact in va by the best talent we can muster. now, one way we can do that is by ensuring we have the right folks in the right roles. this legislation seeks to help that at va by focusing on

hiring those with sufficient experience to best serve our veterans. we can and should look to staff the better. the board of veterans appeals with attorneys that have demonstrated experience expertise in this area, attorneys who are experienced and who can see beyond quotas and metrics to apply the law to the maximum benefit of veterans at the heart of the process. so, madam speaker, i strongly support h.r. 659 and urge my colleagues to do the same. i also want to mention another bill that the house should take up, which will improve the bva, h.r. 2303, introduced by representative morgan mcgarvey, increases the promotion of potential of increases the promotion potential for attorneys at the board of veterans appeals. i know that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle balk at anything

that might result in civil servants receiving more compensation, but if we agree that we need to hire board attorneys with greater experience, and we are asking them to do more work and more complex work at that, we ought to see fit to pay them what they are worth. so i hope that my colleagues see fit to advance that bill very soon as well. now, with that, madam speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from illinois is recognized. >> reserve. >> the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from california is recognized. >> madam speaker, at this time i'd like to yield as much time as she may consume. my good friend, the ranking member of the subcommittee on on health and the author of this legislation, ranking member julia brownley. let me just say, before i actually turn it over to her that i want to in recognition of her announced retirement, she's going to be with us for the rest of the year, but i don't know if i'll

ever have a chance to have this moment on the floor with her again. so i just want to point out that she was the leader of the very first woman veterans task force that resulted in the deborah sampson act, which unfortunately, is really substantively the bill that she put forward and is really the real author of. but it carries somebody else's name. the same with the elizabeth dole act. amazing piece of legislation, amazingly substantive. and the elizabeth dole act has laid the groundwork for our senior veterans who want to who want to age in place at home. that and many other pieces of legislation. as the chair and ranking member of the subcommittee on health, it's with a heavy heart that i yield to my good friend and colleague from california, julia brownley. >> the gentlewoman is recognized. thank you.

>> madam speaker, and thank you, ranking member, for yielding. and thank you for the very kind words. i appreciate it very, very much. and i thank the chairman and the ranking member for their support of this bill, the veterans law judge experience act, and for their work to bring it to the floor today, every day. far too many veterans across this country are waiting for a va benefit decision, but not only for the benefits they are due, but for the stability, the security and the relief that comes with these benefits. too often that wait stretches from months and sometimes into years, and during that time, veterans are left in limbo, unable to work, struggling to support their families, and forced to navigate a system that moves far too slowly for the urgency of their lives. across our

district offices, our caseworkers hear directly from veterans who are desperate for answers about their claims and appeals. in many cases, a timely va decision could change a veteran's life. yet, even after waiting for an initial decision, they may need to appeal their case to the board of veterans appeals, where they face more months and often years of additional delay. veterans deserve a system that works with the same urgency and seriousness with which they served our nation. but in recent years, despite hiring new veteran law judges, the board has often lacked the experienced personnel needed to move cases efficiently and accurately. this is in part due to the fact that in february 2020, the long standing experience requirement for the veteran law judges was

eliminated, opening the door to hiring judges without a background in veterans law. while we respect the commitment of those entering this workforce, the reality is that lengthy training periods, slow decisions, increase errors and leave veterans waiting even longer for answers. the veterans law judge experience act takes a practical, common sense and targeted step to address this challenge to encourage the board of veteran appeals to prioritize hiring judges with at least three years of veterans law experience. that means more cases decided, fewer delays and stronger retention of professionals who already understand this complex and deeply consequential area of the law. hiring experienced veteran law judges will help speed the appeals process, improve the accuracy of decisions, and reduce

unnecessary appeals to the us court of appeals for veterans claims. according to the department of veteran affairs, there are approximately 200,000 pending appeals before the board today, 200,000 pending appeals before the board today. further, a gao audit spanning 2019 to 2022 showed that the us court of appeals for veterans claims, either partially or fully remanded more than 80% of veteran cases back to the board, resting the clock and compounding delays. madam speaker, our obligation to veterans does not end when they no longer serve in uniform. it continues in how we care for them, how we honor their service, and how seriously we take the responsibility to deliver the benefits they have earned. that is what guides my work on the house veteran affairs committee, and why i am proud to see this bipartisan

bill move forward by strengthening the expertise of the board of veteran appeals. we can reduce the backlog, restore trust in the system, and ensure that veterans receive the timely and fair decisions they deserve. i respectfully urge my colleagues to vote yes on this bill, which passed the house veterans affairs committee with overwhelming bipartisan support. thank you, mr. chair, and i yield back. >> the lady from california yields. the gentleman from california reserves. the chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois. >> mr. speaker, we have no more speakers. i'm ready to close, and i reserve the balance of. >> my time. gentleman from illinois reserves. the gentleman from california is recognized. >> mr. speaker, i have no more speakers, and i'm prepared to close. >> the gentleman is recognized. >> mr. speaker, i encourage my colleagues to vote yes on h.r. 659, the veterans law judge experience act of 2025. it's clear to me from the words on

the floor from the ranking member of the house subcommittee, julia brownley, that this bill is wise, it is warranted. it is well thought out, and the arguments for it are about helping our veterans receive their claims, get their claims approved in a timely manner. and again, i would like to repeat my sentiment that we appreciate her service to this body. and she has left an indelible mark on veterans policy, on, on on veterans affairs. and i look forward to serving the balance of this year with my colleague and congratulate her on a brilliant career in the house of representatives. and i yield back. >> gentleman from california yields. the chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i'd also like to say congratulations to the gentlewoman from california for her time and service here, and wish her the best. hopefully we

still have a lot of things to get done to working together, and this bill is a very good bill. and with that speaker, i once again encourage all members to support this legislation and i yield back the balance of my time. >> gentleman from illinois yields the balance of his time. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill? h.r. 659? those in favor say aye. those opposed? no. in the opinion of the chair, two thirds being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed. and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition? >> speaker i move to suspend the rules and pass h.r. 1663, the veterans scam and fraud evasion act of 2025, or the safe act of 2025, as amended. >> the clerk will report the title of the bill. >> h.r. 1663, a bill to amend

title 38, united states code, to establish in the department of veterans affairs a veterans scam and fraud evasion officer, and for other purposes. >> pursuant to the rule. the gentleman from illinois, mr. bost, and the gentleman from california, mr. takano, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois. >> speaker i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on h.r. 1663, as amended. >> without objection. >> speaker i yield myself as much time as i may consume. >> gentleman is recognized. >> thank you, mr. speaker. speaker i rise today in support of h.r. 1663, as amended, offered by representative calvert from from california. this bill would protect veterans from scams and fraud that may target the benefits they earned through service to many veterans along with their families, caregivers and survivors are being hit with savvy fraud schemes designed to

steal personal information, drain bank accounts and even redirect va benefits to bad actors. and when these scams happen, veterans often don't know where to turn inside the federal system and the va, the safe act would take direct action to fix this issue. this bill would add dedicated veterans scam and fraud evasion officers positions to the department of veterans affairs. this would rightfully build up va's fraud prevention and response efforts across va. so this problem is treated like a real threat, not just an afterthought. representative calvert's bill would also require va to improve communications during urgent fraud incidents. so so veterans and their families are not left in the dark while scammers continue to strike by building up the va's existing anti-fraud tools and adding new ones where

necessary, we can combat fraud head on speaker. at the end of the day, veterans should never lose their hard earned benefits because the system failed to protect them from criminals. the safe act should strengthen the accountability and improve prevention, and give veterans the support and protection they deserve. this bill takes an important step toward safeguarding veterans, strengthening trust in the va system, and i'm proud to support it. i urge all of my colleagues to support hr 1663, as amended. and with that speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. >> gentleman from illinois reserves. gentleman from california is recognized. >> mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. >> without objection. >> mr. speaker, i rise to speak in support of h.r. 1663, the veterans scam and fraud evasion, or v safe act, as amended. now, i fully support the intention of this bill and strongly encourage the department to

fully resource the v-safe program established under president biden. however, the actions taken by the trump administration over the last year will significantly hinder the great work that has been accomplished by the v-safe task force, the federal trade commission and the consumer financial protection bureau, which is unfortunately more pressing than ever. according to the federal trade commission, veterans reported some of the highest numbers of fraud complaints and greatest total losses in 2024, amounting to nearly $600 million. veterans also continually face higher losses than their civilian counterparts, with median losses reported around $700, which is over $200 higher than the general population. now, both the ftc and the cfpb have done important work in identifying the most pressing scams and fraudulent activities that target veterans and their families. these include scams like credit card fraud,

investment schemes, and imposter scams, which seek to impersonate government officials, technology support or even love interests to collect money or gain access to veterans personal systems. they have also identified the threat of multi-level marketing schemes and other quote unquote, business opportunities like amway, mary kay and herbalife, who regularly target veterans, service members and their families under the guise of patriotism, flexible hours and financial independence. now, i applaud my colleague, representative delia ramirez, for offering an amendment to require specific trainings on these tactics to provide veterans and their families with clear, actionable guidance to protect their hard earned benefits. it is unfortunate that this common sense amendment was voted down by the republican members of our committee. lastly, i find it ironic that the same republican

colleagues want to advance this legislation while our president actively dismantles the consumer financial protection bureau, one of the only agencies set up to protect military and veteran consumers. irony. since its inception in 2008, the cfpb has returned more than $21 billion. that's billion with a b back to consumers, which includes hundreds of millions of dollars to service members and veterans impacted by violations of the military lending act. unfortunately, president trump has determined that those who served our nation no longer deserve protections against bad actors who seek to profit off their benefits. as fraudsters ability to create more complex scams and more convincing in their deceit. thanks to emerging technologies like

artificial intelligence, the time to create informed and resourced tools is now h.r. 1663 marks a step in the right direction, but i urge my congressional colleagues to do more to help protect our nation's veterans against these scams. and with that, mr. speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. >> gentleman from california reserves. the gentleman from illinois is recognized. >> mr. speaker, i'd like to yield, and i'd like to yield here in just a minute, if i can. but someday i would like to carry on this floor from our committee a bill that is actually sponsored by republican that my colleague could actually find. totally good. we come out here every time and he finds all the excuses of why this is bad, this is bad and it's bad. this is a really good bill. and so just so we know, the person that worked on this has worked very hard on this bill to make sure it deals with the fraud that is out there. and with that, i want to recognize him

for as much time as he may consume. the gentleman from california, mr. ken calvert. >> gentleman from california is recognized. >> thank you, mr. speaker. and thank you, mr. chairman. through their service and sacrifice, our veterans willingly put themselves in harm's way to ensure the security of our country. it's it's our turn to ensure that they're protected from scams and fraud. that's why i introduced h.r. 1663, the veterans scam and fraud invasion act, or v safe act. the sophistication and frequency of scams and fraud targeting our veterans is constantly increasing. according to a report from the federal trade commission, u.s. veterans and military retirees reported $350 million in total fraud losses in 2023. while a number of departments and staff work in an uncoordinated manner to combat fraud within the va and other agencies, the v safe act will establish a comprehensive effort that will assist our veterans by establishing a veterans scam

and fraud evasion officer in the department of veterans affairs, who is responsible for all fraud prevention efforts by providing veterans with more consistent guidance on how to identify, report and avoid fraud and scam attempts, we can reduce the occurrences that are occurring. i want to thank chairman mike bass and all the co-sponsors of this bill for their support. i encourage all my colleagues to protect our veterans by supporting the v safe act. with that, i yield back to the gentleman. >> the gentleman from california yields back the. >> we have no more speakers. we're ready to close and i reserve the balance of my time. >> gentleman from illinois is ready to close and yield or reserves. gentleman from california is recognized. >> mr. speaker, i have no further speakers. i'm prepared to close. >> gentleman is recognized. >> let me just in response to the chairman, you know, just say that i did say that this bill was a step in the right direction, a step that could be

a big leap if we all got behind bigger initiatives and called upon this administration to stop diminishing and diluting the power of the financial consumer protection bureau, the results of protecting military service members and veterans by that particular agency are undisputed. and it became particularly impactful when it was in full force. but the philosophy this administration has been to diminish the authority and reach of the consumer financial protection bureau, as well as the federal trade commission and our veterans are suffering. and in spite of this very small step we're taking with this bill, it is insufficient to take on the enormous challenge of fighting fraudsters in this country who will take advantage of those who have laid their lives on the line for all of us. but

with that, i do urge my colleagues to support this legislation. and you know, i intend to vote yes, and i yield back the balance of my time. >> gentleman from california yields. the gentleman from illinois is recognized. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i would like to encourage all of my members to support this piece of legislation. i think it's a wonderful piece of legislation. it's way overdue. and with that, i will yield back the balance of my time. >> the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill? h.r. 1663, as amended. those in favor say aye. those opposed? no. in the opinion of the chair, two thirds being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. pursuant to clause 12 a of rule one. the chair declares the house in recess until